A Formula for Success

Last week I shared with you how difficult it was for me to get back into my regular blogging discipline. I encouraged you to do the things you know you should do to live your best life. I hope that post inspired you to take action, but I also understand that getting started is sometimes easier said than done. Sometimes you don’t even know where to begin to make life better. That’s why this week, I want to share with you an easy acronym that I’ve created which can serve as a starting point for any goal you wish to accomplish. If you don’t know where to start; start with C.O.R.E.

How I discovered C.O.R.E.

I’ve been exercising on and off for most of my life. I’ve tried aerobics, step-aerobics, kickboxing, spinning, weightlifting, boot camps, HIIT workouts and running. Throughout the years I’ve explored personal training, group classes and solo workouts — wanting to build endurance, get healthy, tone my arms and legs, or slim down. But the one thing I never cared about were my abs. I had no interest in developing a six-pack of any kind. In fact, whenever I did group classes, the last fifteen minutes were usually abdomen workouts; I used to skip that part! My reasoning was that if all I wanted was to maintain my weight and figure, then I needn’t bother with the ab portion of the program. Becoming a runner came with a few challenges. I was running three or four times a week, and on my non-running days, I’d go to an Orange Theory or Red Zone class with my girlfriends. My lower back and knees were hurting, and I felt fatigued. My first step was to see a chiropractor. He gave me a treatment plan that I committed to. It was super helpful. But even with chiropractic care, I still had flare-ups every once in a while. What’s more is that my energy was depleted. I was running slower on my running days because of the HITT training and struggling on my HITT days because of the running. A friend of mine suggested I try Pilates. That was one I’d never tried before. I’d done Yoga, but with little success. My paradigm on pilates was that it was too expensive and too low impact for my taste. But coincidentally my girlfriends wanted to try a new Pilates gym close by and affordable. I tried it just to hang out with them. After only two classes, I felt a significant difference. My back and knee pains were gone and at the end of the class I felt — what’s the best way to describe it? — yummy. Even though it was low impact, it made me feel good while still feeling like I worked out. The following week at our weekly track workout, my peers noticed a difference in me, too. “Hey, you’re running strong today!” coach Halpo patted my back. “You know, Halpo, it’s hard to believe but I think I’m running better because of Pilates.” Halpo nodded. “Marty swears by Pilates. You should talk to him.” Marty is one of the fastest, strongest runners I’ve ever met and is also an Iron Man. I couldn’t keep up with that guy on my best day. He is a first-class athlete. He stood on the sidelines chatting with another runner when I approached him. “Hey Marty, Halpo told me you’re a huge fan of Pilates. I just tried it for the first time last week. I’ve only done two classes, but I’ve noticed I’m feeling better and running stronger.” “I’m so glad you tried it. I tell everyone it’s the best workout ever, and no one believes me!” Marty exclaimed. “The best workout ever?” I asked, surprised. He wiped the sweat off his forehead. “I’ve been doing Pilates for a year and it’s changed everything. I am such a better athlete than I was before.” “What is it about Pilates that’s so helpful?” I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. “Because when you’re fatigued… when you’re down… when you’re running on empty… it all comes down to the strength of your core. The strength of your core is what will keep you going.” His words hit me like a ton of bricks. All my life I’d been shying away from the one thing I needed to help me perform at my peak. I had ignored the innermost, essential part of my body. The moment I focused on strengthening my core, my posture improved; my breathing improved; and my pain disappeared. Everything worked better. I still do the things I did before, such as visiting the chiropractor, maintaining a healthy weight, and working on toning my arms and legs. It’s not like working on my core is the only thing I need to do—but I understand now that I cannot abandon it.

CORE and Success

The CORE of something is the innermost, essential part of it — whether it’s the core of a fruit, of the body, of the problem, or of the business. It was then that I realized that CORE wasn’t just a word; it was a formula; A recipe for success. No matter what you’re working on — losing weight, raising children, building a business, or solving a problem — there are four essential principles that will help you succeed. These are Communication, Organization, Resilience, Emotional Intelligence. I’ve been sharing this formula and helping audiences through my keynotes and workshops but it dawned on me that I’ve never shared it with you! So if you feel like you don’t know where to start to achieve your goals, you can always start with C.O.R.E. Over the next few weeks, I’ll explore each principle to help you apply this formula to your own life and business.